breastfeeding/expressing advice

[biscuitnoodle]

Im trying to combi-feed my Ds who is almost a week old as we struggle a little with latching so my nipples get sore. If this happens I express a little and bottle feed him it then put him back to the boob to keep encouraging the latch. Sometimes I struggle with getting enough milk out when expressing. Does anyone have any tips to get more or any tips to help the latch to save expressing so much please? Im not interested in support groups, I tried those with Ds1 and found them to create more pressure than help. Real mum advice would be better, Thanks.

The more you feed, the more milk you make. So don't stress yourself out trying to express, it's not entirely necessary. FWIW I never got more than a couple of ounces (ds self weaned at 15 months) and my SIL got no mre than a few drops (fed first child to 15 months and 2nd to 2 years). So don't count what you can express as an indicator of your supply of milk

It's pretty normal for there to be some discomfort in the first few weeks of feeding while your body gets used to things. Use Lansinoh after every feed, and let your nipples air dry whenever possible. www.kellymom.com is well worth a read for properly informed and researched advice about breastfeeding. Count to 60 at the start of the feed - if it's still hurting, get some real life support.

Most children's centres run breastfeeding support groups, and there are some run by La Leche League et al so if you can get to a group do - there's nothing to beat sitting in the company of people who are either in the same boat or have recently been there and having someone make you a cup of tea and bring you a biscuit :o

Congratulations

Thanks for the advice and the congratulations! Im teetering between trying to stick it out and giving up as ny son gets very frustrated trying to latch sometimes and seems to prefer the breast milk in a bottle... so tricky

full time expressing is the hardest of all the ways to feed a baby. breast is tough for the first couple of months and easier thereafter. bottles are the same amount of work all the way through - so easier than breast in the first few weeks but it never gets easier - you always have to wash, sterilise and measure. breast you just plug and play